Response from Dr Emily Weiss:
Miranda - Boy, tough question.

I want to begin by asking; how do you know that Zero is "crying for attention?" Is he vocal at particular times of the day? Does he have free access to food? Has Erin taken Zero to the vet for a full physical and blood work to be sure that Zero is completely healthy?

So - I think we need to do a bit more investigating with Zero before we decide that he is in fact lonely. He is an 8 year old cat that according to you has only been displaying this behavior recently. My thought is that something other than loneliness is causing the behavior. I suggest you have Erin keep a log of Zero's behavior. When is he vocal? When is he quiet? When is he seeking attention? When does he eat? Drink? Look for patterns - all this should be done after he has gotten a clean bill of health from the vet.

If you chose to get another cat, I do think there is potential risk for behavior issues, as Zero has lived for 8 years as a single cat. If you chose to move forward with a second cat, you may want to change your thinking from getting a cat for Zero - to getting a cat to add to your family. If Zero does not bond to the new cat, that does not mean the new cat needs to leave - but just that management becomes more of an issue. I would encourage you and Erin to think about the commitment before moving forward. What about the guilt-free option of fostering one cat at a time, until you either find the right match, or it becomes evident that there isn't going to BE the right match in this situation?

If you chose to move forward, it makes sense to have all the changes occur together - by bringing both cats to the new household together, they can quickly chose their 'space.' Yes it is a lot of stress at one time - but that is ok, if we can decrease the stress moving forward.

Choosing the 'right cat' to fit into your household will not be the easiest prospect. Many cats do better with younger cats entering their environment, while some can not tolerate the high energy and boisterous play from a young cat. Many neutered male cats do beautifully with other male cats. While Zero is uncomfortable with new people, he may be quite comfortable with new cats. It could take several weeks for cats to adjust to new situations.

I want to reiterate that I am not convinced that Zero is lonely, and further, that another cat would be helpful. I would really encourage you to investigate further before making any decisions.

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Posted on SHARE Yahoo group Aug. 24, 2005